What is the correct position to place the hands in prayer?

Started by Abu Muhammad, Mar 16, 2024, 08:38 PM

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Abu Muhammad

Mar 16, 2024, 08:38 PM
📌 What is the correct position to place the hands in prayer?

❓ Question: What is the ruling on placing the right hand over the left hand on the chest or on the (place of the) heart? and what is the ruling on placing the hands below the navel? and is there any difference (in this matter) between men and women?
✍🏻 Answer: The ruling on placing the right hand over the left in prayer is a sunnah (as mentioned in) the narration of Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allāh be pleased with him) who said: 'The people were ordered that a man should place his right hand on the left arm in prayer.' [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (740)]

❓ But where does he place his hands?

✍🏻 Answer: The statements closest to authenticity in this matter, is that the placement is over the chest (because of) the narration of Wā'il ibn Ḥujr (may Allāh be pleased with him) that the prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) used to place his right hand over his left hand, on his chest. [Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Khuzaymah (479)]

Even if this narration has some element of weakness, it is stronger in authenticity than other narrations.

As for placement of the hands over the (place of) the heart on the left side, then this is an innovation which has no basis.

As for placement below the navel, then it has been narrated from 'Alī (may Allāh be pleased with him) [Sunan Abī Dāwūd (756)], but the narration is weak and the narration of Wā'il ibn Ḥujr is stronger than it.

There is no difference in this ruling between a man and a woman. That is because the (default) principle is that men and women have the same ruling unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise or (there is evidence) showing the difference between them, and I am not aware of any authentic evidence that differentiates between a man and a woman in this sunnah.

📚 Source: A fatwā by Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-'Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh – Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām (237 (1/381-382))

Abu Muhammad

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Mar 26, 2024, 02:27 PM Last Edit: Mar 26, 2024, 02:53 PM by Abu Muhammad
📌 Placing of hands during prayer

❓ Question: Where should we cross our hands in prayer?
✍🏻 Answer: There are different opinions on this, but, an authentic ḥadīth on this topic narrated by Wā'il ibn Ḥujr (may Allāh be pleased with him) states: "I prayed with the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), and he placed his right hand on his left, on his chest." [Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Khuzaymah (479)]

This ḥadīth is the most authentic on this issue. It is not such an important issue that it should be conflicted over. If someone has placed their hands slightly above the chest, that would also be acceptable. However, it is recommended to follow the practice mentioned in the ḥadīth.

📚 Source: Islāmic Verdicts (Fatāwā Ṣirāṭ-e-Mustaqīm) – Shaykh Mahmood Ahmed Mirpuri (1/113)
Translated by Mohammed Abdul Hadi al-Oomeri for Dārussalām
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